Recurring cellulitis is a recurrently occurring serious bacterial skin infection that usually affects the lower legs. Compression therapy is a technique of increasing blood flow activity in the lower limbs through strengthening vein support. Evidence suggests that the daily use of compression garments on the leg can prevent recurring cellulitis. This study aims to study the efficacy of compression therapy in preventing recurrent cellulitis.
This randomized, single-center, non-blinded trial included a total of 84 patients with chronic edema of the leg and recurrent cellulitis. The patients were assigned in a 1:1 ratio to receive leg compression therapy with education on cellulitis (compression group, n=41) or education only (control group, n=43). The primary outcome of the study was a recurrent episode of cellulitis, along with cellulitis-related hospital admissions and quality of life.
Of 84 patients, 23 episodes of cellulitis occurred, 6 (15%) in the compression group, and 17 (40%) in the control group. Three patients (7%) in the compression group and six (14%) in the control group were hospitalized for cellulitis. The quality of life was not significantly different in the two groups.
The research concluded that compression therapy in patients with chronic edema resulted in a reduced incidence of recurrent cellulitis.
Ref: https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa1917197
